Committee for discussing projects with Imran de-notified

Officials say body set up to look into matter, others claim notice was not genuine

PESHAWAR:

The planning and development department (P&D) on Thursday said it has withdrawn a notice to constitute a committee to discuss government projects with PTI chief Imran Khan and Reham Khan.

The decision had been announced through a notification issued by the department on Wednesday. “It would be headed by the chief economist of the department and the chiefs of the energy and power, infrastructure, economic analysis, industry and rural development,” read a copy of the document. “The committee will discuss progress on special projects of the provincial government and recommend improvements to Imran and Reham.”



Lapse of judgment?

When asked about the rules under which the committee would discuss projects with Imran and Reham, P&D Section Officer Faheedullah Khan, who issued the notification, said the notification has been withdrawn. “The department did issue the notification [in the first place],” he said. However, he did not specify the capacity in which the PTI chief and his wife could have discussed K-P government projects.

Muhammad Ayaz, the department’s chief economist, told The Express Tribune, the committee was set up to discuss the special programme for street children. “However, we decided against forming the committee,” he said. “The notification is fake and has been withdrawn.”

According to Ayaz, the notification has been withdrawn and an enquiry committee has been set up to look into the matter.



“We have reason to believe a department official issued the notification with ulterior motives,” he said. “The section officer who issued the notification has no authority to issue it.”

The other view

However, officials, requesting anonymity, claimed the notification was genuine and issued by the department. “The department may have withdrawn the notification because it has faced criticism in the media” the official said.

Another official privy to the development said the draft was prepared by the chief economist and was approved by the K-P additional chief secretary.



“The section officer notified it,” he said. “The PTI chief has participated in several initiatives in the past.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2015.